In brief
Emmanuel Macron, speaking in Doha, accused unnamed foreign leaders of using the week’s protests as a campaign platform, alleging that false videos spread by AI‑driven accounts had amplified the violence. He targeted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump, saying their remarks added fuel to domestic tensions. Reuters and UK media reports point to pro‑Russian, far‑right and other disinformation networks actively promoting extremist narratives. France, a key supporter of Ukraine, and other European states are tightening oversight of online content after the unrest. A viral AI‑generated image depicting a robbery in Paris further highlights the risk of misinformation spreading unchecked.
Emmanuel Macron, while on a visit to Doha, accused foreign leaders of exploiting the violent protests that erupted across France last Saturday. He said unnamed officials had been using the unrest to campaign for upcoming elections, with their comments on the violence playing into political advantages “at France’s expense.”
Macron was not specific about which leaders were involved but implied that individuals such as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump were taking advantage of the situation. He cited Netanyahu’s remarks about an “invasion of extremist Islam” in the country, as well as Trump’s warnings about mass immigration fueling unrest.
Both officials had earlier criticized France, and President Macron responded that the swelling protests were partly inflamed by fake videos created by artificial intelligence. The videos, he said, were used to spread misinformation and stoke tensions.
Since the riots began, nearly 150 people have been jailed and more than 800 have been called before courts. The clashes, which began as cost‑of‑living protests in Lyon, Marseille and Nice, spilled into Paris and other major cities. Police admitted they had lost control during some of the disturbances.
The President pledged to take a hard line against “agitators from ultra‑left fringe groups,” whom he blamed largely for the disorder. He also warned that social media posts highlighting the unrest could be used by foreign actors to influence domestic politics.
Independent research by the UK’s Financial Times and other outlets has identified pro‑Russian and far‑right social media accounts that spread graphic footage, with a suspected disinformation operation linked to Ukraine fighting in the region. The allegations include possible involvement from Iran and Algeria as well.
The European Union is studying a potential online interference campaign surrounding the unrest. Security officials said they were monitoring multiple platforms for extremist activity.
In addition to the violent footage, a viral image generated by artificial intelligence depicted an elderly couple in distress, which was widely shared across social media despite lacking confirmation. The image, produced by a private website and later posted on X without a disclaimer, received more than six million views.
